Tag: Tony Khan

Tony Khan says he’s talked to Billy Corgan over AEW National Championship

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Tony Khan and Billy Corgan have talked things out.

During a livestream on Friday night, Khan said he talked to the NWA President over his introduction of a new championship, the AEW National title. After stressing that this would have a completely different lineage from the NWA’s version of the title, Khan said he and Corgan had a “nice conversation.”

“I ended up having a really nice conversation about it with the President of the NWA, Billy Corgan,” Khan said. “I have a lot of respect for him and a lot of respect for what he’s doing. I really love the traditions of pro wrestling and I had a really nice talk with Billy and we hadn’t talked in a long time so I think it was good for him to hear this. I respect him and I respect the NWA, and we’re trying to do something different here.”

When the National title was announced, it caused controversy with some NWA wrestlers, including current NWA National Champion Mike Mondo.

AEW’s latest title will be determined in a Casino Gauntlet match at Full Gear on November 22. Khan said during the stream that matches will soon take place to determine the first and second spots in the match.

Tony Khan calls France and Germany ‘untapped markets’ for AEW

Posted on by Ian Carey

Tony Khan says he’d love to bring AEW to France or Germany, calling both countries “untapped markets.”

During an interview with Sportico, Khan was asked about expanding his promotion internationally. He mentioned recruiting wrestlers from places such as Canada, Japan, England, and Mexico, before turning his attention to France and Germany.

“There’s great talent pools in Mexico, England, Japan, great places to recruit pro wrestlers, a lot of great wrestlers out of Canada. These are great markets for us, but there’s also some untapped markets,” Khan said.

“We’ve never done a show in France. I’d love to go to Paris for AEW, and all over France. I’d love to go to Germany, which has a great wrestling market. There’s a lot of great wrestling fans in Germany. I think that’d be a great place for us to have AEW at some point.”

WWE has presented two big shows in France in recent years, 2024’s Backlash in Lyon and 2025’s Clash in Paris. In 2024, WWE presented its first PLE from Germany, Bash in Berlin.

The next international show for AEW is an episode of Collision scheduled for the Utilita Arena in Cardiff, Wales, on December 13. The following Wednesday, AEW will present Dynamite from the Co-op Live in Manchester, England. Then on February 14, its Grand Slam Australia from the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, followed by a house show in Brisbane the following night.

The full interview with Khan is available below:

Tony Khan names ‘dream’ AEW signing

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Tony Khan has named the non-wrestler “dream signing” he would most like to bring to AEW.

Speaking with Sportico at its Invest in Sports: New York event at NASDAQ’s headquarters in New York last week, Khan was asked which sports star or actor from outside the traditional wrestling world he would most like to sign to AEW.

For Khan, the answer was a familiar name: Shaquille O’Neal.

“For me, the best person we had and I would love for him to come back any time, would be Shaq. Shaq’s 1-0, but then he’s been away from AEW. He disappeared out of the ambulance in 2021 and we haven’t seen him since. So I would love to get Shaq back in the ring. He’s gotta be on of the all-time greatest stars ever in basketball, and he’s undefeated in AEW.”

O’Neal teamed with the debuting Jade Cargill in a mixed tag match against Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet on the March 3, 2021 AEW Dynamite episode. He was taken away from ringside on a stretcher after going through a table, but disappeared from an ambulance in a later backstage segment.

Khan also discussed his process for scouting talent and more in the Sportico interview embedded below.

Tony Khan to reveal more women’s Blood & Guts information on AEW Collision

Posted on by Bryan Rose

More information on the women’s Blood & Guts match is coming.

During a livestream on Friday, Tony Khan confirmed that the match will be taking place in two weeks in Greensboro, North Carolina on November 12. He said he would have further information regarding the match on Saturday’s Collision.

Khan also noted that Penelope Ford, who suffered an injury last week, is out of the match and as a result many people have lined up to take her spot in the match. Khan said that more participants will be added, making the match bigger.

The angle to set up the first-ever women’s Blood and Guts match took place at the end of September. Hayter issued the challenge after an attack by the Triangle of Madness, but not mcuh information has come out since. On this week’s AEW Dynamite, Orange Cassidy issued the Blood & Guts challenge for the men, with Conglomeration members likely to take on the Death Riders.

AEW Fright Night Collision lineup | Saturday, November 1

  • ROH World Champion Bandido defends against Mascara Dorada
  • CMLL World Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Olympia
  • Don Callis Family (Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita) vs. Max Caster & Anthony Bowens
  • Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir vs. Nixon Newell & Miranda Alize
  • Gunn Club (Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn & Ace Austin) vs. MxM TV (Johnny TV, Mason Madden & Mansoor)
  • The Conglomeration (Mark Briscoe, Roderick Strong & Komander) vs. LFI (Sammy Guevara, The Beast Mortos & Dralistico)
  • Tony Khan gives an update on women’s Blood & Guts match

JNPO: AEW Q3 business review with Brandon Thurston

Posted on by Josh Nason

Attention fellow wrestling business nerds…lend me your calculators.

On Josh Nason‘s Punch-Out, it is time for our quarterly check-in on AEW business with Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics which hosts the key performance indicators that pair with the podcast.

Josh and Brandon recap Q3 (July – September) focusing on some of the following:

  • AEW holding three PPVs all at early start times
  • The early WBD sale rumors beginning
  • What is AEW doing with video games & figures?
  • A breakdown of all of their live events and attendance trends which led to a rant
  • KHANtract news with the comings, goings, injuries and returns
  • An extended quotable quotes section
  • KHANflicts and KHANcerns…and more.

Come for the wrestling business talk, say for the mention of Mitt Romney.

Click here to listen for free or on the podcast platform of your choice: Spotify or Apple Pods (search Wrestling Observer)

D-Von Dudley recalls meetings with AEW’s Tony Khan: ‘All three were a bust’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

When D-Von Dudley departed his WWE behind-the-scenes role in 2023, he had some discussions with Tony Khan about potentially joining AEW.

In a new interview, Dudley told Video Gamer that his agent contacted AEW about a potential job after Dudley’s WWE exit. That job did not come to fruition, though, because Dudley was only interested in being an agent/producer. Dudley says Khan wanted him to compete in the ring or be a manager:

  • I was looking to become a producer. I wasn’t looking to become a wrestler. And the only reason why my agent even contacted them was because of the fact that I left WWE and I wanted to still do the agent role. But my sons were there at the time and I was gonna try to do anything I could to help my sons out. I expressed to Tony that I didn’t wanna wrestle. He kept trying to push it. He would have loved me to go out there and do a couple of things, maybe be a manager and maybe even do a six-man tag match. And I told him, I said, ‘If I do a six-man, let me know right now. I’ll be on [the] apron and the boys are gonna do all the work.’
  • I told him I don’t wanna wrestle anymore. And he wasn’t taking no for an answer. He couldn’t get that through his head. He was like stringing me along and even though I kept telling him I don’t wanna wrestle. I was literally when we had those meetings really fresh off a back surgery. I really couldn’t do it like that back then. It takes time for your body to heal and to be able to do what you got to do after back surgery.
  • So I basically kept emphasizing that I wanted to be a producer. I did not wanna wrestle. I wanted to work behind the scenes and he kept asking me if I wanted to wrestle and get back in the ring. And I’m like, ‘Dude, you’re not getting what I’m saying. I don’t want to wrestle. I just wanna be a producer. I wanna help my sons out. I wanna help get them where they are.’ Like what Billy Gun was doing for his sons, you know? I’ve done everything in my career. I don’t need that. He just wasn’t taking no for an answer. I’ve had three meetings with him and all three were a bust!

Dudley’s sons — Terrell & Terrence Hughes — are an indie tag team named TNT. They worked dates on AEW Dark from 2020-2022.

After his 2022 spinal surgery, Dudley worked very few matches. He wrapped up his in-ring career this month when The Dudleys lost to their legendary rivals Matt & Jeff Hardy at TNA Bound for Glory.

Dudley told Video Gamer that — while he does not have anything against AEW as a company or Khan personally — he is not a fan of how the promotion is run and would not have wanted to have his final match there:

  • I just wanted to end my career the right way and it had no bearing on where I did it, just as long as it was the right way. I would not have done it for AEW just because I don’t think AEW was ever a fit for the Dudleys. For other people probably, yes, but to me, not the Dudleys. I don’t know if I would’ve felt comfortable. There’s just certain things about the organization. I love the talent. I think the talent is great. There’s no question about that, but there’s a feeling that certain people in the organization that call the shots, I’m not a big fan of them. 
  • And Tony Khan lets that happen. So I don’t ever think that it would’ve ever been able to take place in AEW. I’ve got nothing against AEW as a company. I’ve got nothing against Tony Khan. I just don’t like the way the organization is run. And that’s about it. Again, I’ve got friends in AEW. I’ve met new people at autograph signings, like Will Ospreay who is a great guy and a lot of the talent in AEW have the same frustration that I see. They just wish that certain people wouldn’t be calling the shots and that Tony would take more control, but yet give it to somebody that knows what they’re doing.

At the moment, the 53-year-old Dudley is focused on expanding his presence on YouTube. His channel currently has almost 200,000 subscribers.

Daily Update: Tony Khan, Zaria, Shotzi Blackheart

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Notes from the new issue which apparently has been the talk of the social media wrestling world:

  • Seth Rollins injury and how this will lead to numerous changes in booking plans, including what was scheduled short and long-term for Rollins through Mania and after.
  • Full coverage of Crown Jewel, business notes and match coverage
  • The Media Ratings Council has questions about the new numbers
  • Just how far Smackdown has dropped with younger viewers based on the new sampling and NXT isn’t much different, nor is AEW
  • Konosuke Takeshita beats Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP title, a look at King of Prm Wrestling, WrestleKingdom, first thoughts on Aaron Wolf, and the angles on the show
  • WrestleDream preview, business notes, as well as Saturday Night’s Main Event in Salt Lake City needs the entire show revamped
  • Odds for upcoming big matches
  • TNA Bound for Glory notes
  • A detailed story on WWE cuts focusing on Ridge Holland and Wes Lee
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH at Sumo Hall
  • A huge story on the 2025 Hall of Fame U.S. & Canada candidates
  • What the awards voting over the last 45 years says about those who fare better not in than those who are in.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling shows of the past week
  • It’s women’s month at Arena Mexico but one person is still the star, a look at the recent main events
  • A look at two PPV shows from Arena Mexico coming
  • Who is the obvious choice for tag team of the year that nobody is talking about
  • Best of the Super Juniors tournament
  • Japanese referee dies in bear attack
  • Update on Smashing Machine business
  • They named a bridge after Stu Hart and more notes
  • NFL star copying Ric Flair
  • Fantastica Mania UK
  • The Andrade situation
  • Lots of background details on similar stories
  • Kota Ibushi update
  • Notes on Chris Jericho and Britt Baker
  • Darby Allin talks about the cancers that used to be in AEW
  • Update on a training camp for AEW in Asheville, NC
  • Rematch of a match of the year candidate coming to AEW show in Edinburg, TX
  • Updates on YouTube numbers for September
  • Debate over the new and old Ali Act
  • Details on Zuffa Boxing deals
  • How much UFC makes in profit per Saturday show
  • New UFC fights
  • Sad BJ Penn story
  • Stories on fighters getting screwed by promoters
  • Ticket demand for John Cena’s last show
  • New WWE hire, usage of AI for wrestling storylines and some are worried about their jobs
  • AJ Styles talks retiring
  • WWE injury updates

This Week’s Back Issue

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Ricky Saints & Trick Williams contract signing and brawl from NXT last night.
  • NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne was a guest on Busted Open Radio today.
  • Zaria reflected on the one-year anniversary of her NXT debut and looked ahead to her Women’s North American Championship match against Blake Monroe at Halloween Havoc:
    • 1 Year ago today I debuted in WWE. It’s gone by so quickly that it all feels like a dream. I’ve accomplished more than I thought I would in just a year. Iron Survivor, ladder match at Stand and Deliver, tag championship match at Evolution, debuting on Smackdown and now I get to have my first singles championship match at Halloween Havoc. 
    • A championship that belongs to my partner [Sol Ruca]. Someone that has played such a big role in my growth this past year. The friendship that was so unexpected yet the bond is unbreakable. Stepping into a WWE ring for the first time at Halloween Havoc was such a definitive moment for me and now defending the NA Championship for Sol, is a definitive moment for ZaRuca. This moment means everything to me. I won’t let you down
  • JC Mateo posted a photo with TNA’s Chris Bey, who continues to progress in his recovery after suffering a broken neck last year:
    • No excuses, this man is a literal example of that. So happy to have run into him and see first hand his progress. If you think you can’t do it, don’t listen to me, look at this man and follow his example. Keep going forward kid!
  • Nikki Bella shared a video of her son attending Monday’s Raw with her.
  • To promote tonight’s New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game, ESPN created a WrestleMania 28-inspired poster with stars Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell in the places of The Rock and John Cena.

Other Wrestling

  • Superstar Crossover asked Tony Khan what he believes John Cena’s legacy will be in wrestling:
    • John Cena’s absolutely a legendary pro wrestler who came into the space and became a huge star very quickly on television because he has so much charisma and he’s one of the hardest working people as far as I know in pro wrestling.
    • I’ve never actually met John Cena. I have a ton of respect for him as a wrestler. He seems like a wonderful person. Everybody I know that’s worked with John Cena has only the very, very best things to say about him. And he’s known for being the utmost professional.
    • I think he’s also a very, very talented actor. I’m a huge fan of the Peacemaker show on HBO Max…
    • I think that he’s absolutely fantastic in the ring. And he seems fantastic out of the ring. Certainly on screen, one of the all-time greats. And he came into the wrestling business after many of the top stars were either getting ready to retire or entering the final phase of their career and he really stepped up as one of the biggest wrestling stars of all time. Even though I’ve never met him or talked to him, I have a ton of respect for him.
  • Khan told amNewYork that he’s interested in taking AEW to more new markets internationally:
    • We built a lot. It’s been six years of AEW, and again, it feels like we started just yesterday. I’m very interested in taking AEW and visiting more of Europe. I think there are more opportunities there. We’ve had great shows in the UK, particularly with shows in London. We’ve set records at Wembley Stadium, and we’ve had great events in Cardiff, Wales. And I’m really excited about this year taking AEW to Manchester for the first time. I think there’s more opportunities there internationally, for AEW…I think that’s very attractive, just international expansion.
  • TNA Wrestling has entered into a partnership with ticketing company Tixr:
    • TNA Wrestling today confirmed a long-term partnership with Tixr, a global technology leader modernising ticketing and live event commerce, to be an official sponsor and ticket provider for future TNA live events.
    • The TNA/Tixr partnership kicks off in November, when TNA presents three consecutive nights of live, intense, action-packed pro wrestling at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 13-15.
  • NJPW’s English-language website posted an interview with Konosuke Takeshita.
  • Shotzi Blackheart told TV Insider that MLW has been her favorite place to work after her departure from WWE:
    • MLW has honestly been my favorite place to work for right now. It kind of reminds me of my first year at NXT. When I got to NXT, Hunter [Triple H] really got me. They gave me the opportunity to host Halloween Havoc and really let me be me and my character and really understood me. MLW really understands the ‘Ballsy Badass.’ I came in and every creative thing they have given me, they totally get my character. From promos to giving me my ‘Graveyard Shift’ talking segment. Just letting me be myself and understanding my character. MLW gets me. It’s a breath of fresh air to be somewhere where someone enjoys your character and appreciates what I bring to the table and highlights it.
  • Shotzi noted that, if WWE contacted her to return, it’s not something she would want to do at the moment:
    • Right now, I can genuinely say if WWE offered me another contract I’d be like, ‘call me back in six months.’ Ask me again in six months because I’m just having so much fun right now. I feel like I’m growing so much as a performer, an in-ring wrestler and a ring leader. I don’t want to stop that right now. I’m learning so much about myself. I don’t trust I would be able to do that there. I just want to develop myself and regain all my confidence and just have a good time right now and not rush back. 
  • House of Glory Wrestling has announced Scarlett Bordeaux & Shotzi vs. Priscilla Kelly & Allie Katch for its November 15 Superclash event in Brentwood, New York.
  • Ric Flair was a guest on the Games with Names podcast with New England Patriots legend Julian Edelman. They looked back at Flair’s 1989 Chi-Town Rumble classic against Ricky Steamboat.
  • SoCal Val interviewed Lisa Marie Varon (the former Victoria/Tara) for WrestlingNewsCo.

Tony Khan says Darby Allin returned from Mt. Everest as ‘another level of a great person’

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

AEW head Tony Khan was a big fan of Darby Allin before his climb up Mt. Everest earlier this year and was even more so after Allin returned to the company this summer.

During an interview with Busted Open Radio that ran Wednesday, Dave LaGreca asked about Khan’s feelings on Allin as he let the former TNT & Tag Team Champion take time off to do the climb and when he did, he unfurled the AEW flag to celebrate — something Khan said “meant the world” to him.

Khan said Allin had “the most positive mindset” before he departed for the climb and while Khan felt he was always the “ultimate team player before he left,” he thinks Allin kicked it up a notch when he returned.

“He went from being a ten to an 11 when it came to selflessness and his attitude. He already had the best attitude that I know, but he came back another level of a great person. He is so selfless and came back so centered and so focused, I was blown away,” Khan said.

Khan added Allin was even more considerate of other people and how he could help AEW. After being gone for more than six months, Allin returned at July’s All In during the Hangman Page vs. Jon Moxley AEW World title match to help Page.

Khan was not asked about the recent controversy involving former AEW coach Sarah Stock who took to X to publicly criticize an aquarium tank spot during the Allin and Moxley I Quit match.

During the interview, Khan reiterated how WrestleDream was one of his favorite shows they have ever done, as well as a status check on Chris Jericho.

Tony Khan ‘more proud’ of AEW WrestleDream than any show since pandemic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Tony Khan is incredibly proud of the product AEW was able to offer at WrestleDream 2025.

The pay-per-view took place in St. Louis this past weekend and was headlined by Darby Allin defeating Jon Moxley in an “I Quit” match. While speaking to Josh Martinez of Z100 Radio in New York, Khan reflected on the night and called it one of his favorite AEW shows ever. He’s especially proud of the event given that some of AEW’s top stars were unavailable due to injury.

“I absolutely loved the WrestleDream show, start to finish,” Khan said. “And I thought we had such a great night and put so much great action in the show. And I wouldn’t have changed a single thing about WrestleDream. It’s one of my favorite AEW events ever, pound-for-pound, especially with some injuries and some top stars away. I thought this was the absolute best show we were capable of putting on. So I’m more proud of what we did at WrestleDream — probably at least since the pandemic of any show we’ve done.”

Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland are two of AEW’s best wrestlers who are currently sidelined with injuries and could not compete at WrestleDream.

Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship and Kris Statlander vs. Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship were among the other top matches on the WrestleDream card. One unique aspect of the show was it beginning with a match already in progress, with FTR vs. JetSpeed starting on the pre-show and going into the main card. Khan said it was an idea he came up with while trying to offer the best show possible.

“Like I said, some of the top wrestling stars were away and I said, ‘I’m going to make this the best possible show and everyone’s going to say WrestleDream was the greatest event AEW could put on. And it’s going to be about the people who are here, and they’re going to love this event.’ And that’s how I felt at times in the lockdown, in the pandemic,” Khan said. “If anybody wasn’t available, we would be creative, we would come up with the very best shows we could possibly put on in a unique environment.

“And that’s how I felt about WrestleDream. So we tried a lot of things at WrestleDream, and I really felt like it was very successful. I don’t think anybody had — to the best of my recollection, to the best of my knowledge — had ever had an event carry over [from pre-show into the PPV].”

This Wednesday, AEW will be in San Antonio for Dynamite’s fallout from WrestleDream. The episode will kick off the build to Full Gear 2025, which is being held at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on Saturday, November 22.

Tony Khan says Mercedes Mone ‘not really making money’ on indie bookings

Posted on by Ian Carey

Tony Khan has commented on Mercedes Mone’s independent bookings.

Mone captured her 12th championship this weekend, defeating Jody Threat for the WPW Women’s title in Winnipeg on Sunday. During an interview on Z100 on Tuesday, Tony Khan said that Mone’s bookings outside AEW show her love for wrestling.

Khan said:

“With all the commitments Mercedes has taken on, I think it’s really impressive. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that shows it’s not about pure greed and money for Mercedes because a lot of these places she’s wrestling, Winnipeg, Canada, Denmark, they’re not the highest paying places. She’s not really making money from these. She loves wrestling. She loves building up companies, she loves meeting new young stars and she really cares about the craft and the sport of wrestling.”

The topic of Mone winning championships from independent promotions all over the world has been a topic of some debate online. The official social media accounts for Winnipeg Pro Wrestling responded to people online who were critical of Mone winning such titles, writing:

“Hey there I’m the one that booked her, picked her up from the airport and was with her all day. I’m the one that sees the ticket sales and budgets, I’m the one that saw kids crying and shaking when they met her. Hope this helps.”

WPW co-owner Devin Bray also told Post Wrestling that Mone’s appearance on their show on Sunday led to them being discovered by hundreds of local wrestling fans that did not know about the promotion previously.

“We attracted, I’d say, a couple of hundred more people who didn’t know we existed who live here and are wrestling fans. So it just took us to a whole new level.”

Tony Khan’s appearance on Z100 is available below:

Tony Khan on Chris Jericho: ‘We’ll see what happens here in the coming months’

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Tony Khan talks Chris Jericho.

In an interview with Busted Open Radio, Khan was asked about Chris Jericho’s status with the company as reports indicate he may be looking at a WWE return. Khan said he’ll take a wait and see approach, but Jericho is always welcome in AEW.

“I love Chris Jericho. He’s a huge part of AEW, he’s been here since the beginning and, you know, we’ll see what happens here in the coming months,” he said. “Chris is always a welcome, big part of AEW we’d always want to have here. So I am absolutely so grateful to Chris Jericho for everything he’s done.”

Jericho hasn’t been seen on AEW television since April, abandoning Learning Tree stablemates Big Bill and Bryan Keith. Speculation has been mounting about his future, particularly this week when Jericho announced talent for his 2026 cruise which didn’t feature any AEW talent. In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it was noted that Jericho is either heading to WWE or has people thinking he may return.

“He’s either going to WWE or he wants people to think he’s going to WWE to up his price from each side,” Meltzer wrote. “The idea is that Jericho is coming for a retirement tour and Hall of Fame induction. It also should be pointed out the cruise has nobody from WWE either but I don’t know that WWE would allow their talent to go even if he was with the company.”

Jericho last wrestled for the WWE in 2018. Before officially signing with AEW in 2019, he made appearances for New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning the IWGP Intercontinental title at one point.

Tony Khan clarifies stakes for Mercedes Mone’s open challenge at AEW WrestleDream

Posted on by Ian Carey

It won’t be just the TBS Championship at stake at AEW WrestleDream tonight.

On Friday night, Mercedes Mone issued an open challenge for her TBS Championship to take place on tonight’s pay-per-view from St. Louis, inviting any champion in the world to answer the call. However, Tony Khan clarified via social media on Saturday afternoon that whoever answers Mone’s open challenge will have to put their title on the line as well, meaning Mone will have a chance to break Ultimo Dragon’s record tonight.

Khan wrote:

“After last night’s Arena México win, longest reigning TBS Champ @MercedesVarnado puts up the TBS Title vs any champion + their belt! 10 Belts Moné aims to set the record for most belts held simultaneously TONIGHT!”

Mone was victorious at Arena Mexico on Friday night, defeating Persephone to retain her CMLL Women’s World Championship. She is also scheduled for Winnipeg Pro Wrestling’s Rumble in the Bert on Sunday, where she’ll challenge Jody Threat for the promotion’s women’s championship.

The updated lineup for WrestleDream is below.

AEW WrestleDream, 8 p.m. Eastern time —

  • AEW World Champion Hangman Adam Page defends against Samoa Joe
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander defends against Toni Storm
  • I Quit match: Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin
  • TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Mark Briscoe
  • AEW Tag Team Champions Brody King and Bandido defend against Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita
  • $500,000 tag team match: The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) vs. Jurassic Express (Jack Perry and Luchasaurus)
  • Tornado trios match: The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, MVP) vs. The Demand (Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, Toa Liona)
  • Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla
  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against any champion in the world in a title vs. title match

AEW Saturday Tailgate Brawl, 7 p.m. Eastern time —

  • FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs. JetSpeed (Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey)
  • Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron vs. Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford
  • The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Tomohiro Ishii, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong) vs. The Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia)
  • Eddie Kingston and Hook vs. TBA

Tony Khan AEW media call notes: Andrade contract, Blood & Guts, ratings, injury updates

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

During a Thursday media call, AEW head Tony Khan talked about the contract situation with Andrade El Idolo (somewhat) in addition to the new ratings system, injury updates to two stars, potentially two Blood & Guts matches, and more.

The full audio from the call can be found below.

Andrade

Asked about the Andrade contract situation, Khan didn’t directly answer the question, even when offered the chance to do so on a follow-up. Khan said he has a ton of respect for him, calling him an amazing wrestler and said he would echo his statements at Worlds End in December 2023. He felt he left on a high note then and still feels that way. He’s excited to see what’s next for him and that was all he could say about it.

Nielsen ratings changes

Khan was asked about the new “Big Data + Panel” ratings methodology by Nielsen & how it’s affected wrestling. He said it will be interesting to look at and thinks they are overall having a really good year and “some of the best results of anybody.” Khan said he’s a part of different sports leagues and is aware of the differences & trying to learn from them. They need to adapt to the changing environment, but they are still trying to figure everything out.

Two Blood & Guts matches

Asked about whether there will be two Blood & Guts matches this year, he thinks they are heading toward both the men and women doing just that. He didn’t directly say the Greensboro, North Carolina, show in November will host two such matches, but he certainly seemed to hint at it.

Kota Ibushi & Swerve Strickland

Asked about Ibushi following his injury last week, Khan said the injury was “devastating for many reasons.” He was planned for the WrestleDream card and they had to make changes accordingly. He is looking forward to having him back if & when he is able. He added that sitting with Kenny Omega and Ibushi together at the Daily’s Place office last week was a “dream come true.”

On Strickland, Khan says he hopes he can come back “relatively soon” and based on conversations he had as recently as today, “he’s on a good pace and sooner than later.”

WrestleDream card updates

Khan said he has “undeniably” changed things for Saturday, but expects WrestleDream to be “an excellent, excellent show.” He is making changes and “going to try some things.” Ibushi was one of the things that necessitated a change.

Future AEW training/developmental facility?

Asked about interest in an AEW developmental/training facility, Khan said he’s interested in that, but was surprised at yesterday’s Fightful report about Asheville, North Carolina, saying there was some truth but was only part of the story. He played it off as kayfabe, saying he would be interested if FTR, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage could all make amends. He confirmed there were talks about such a place, but those issues would need to be figured out first.

Other Notes:

  • He also mentioned the wife of Lou Thesz is expected to be at WrestleDream as he wants to honor the spirit of wrestling in St. Louis. He said he would honor Antonio Inoki (for whom the event was initially done in tribute to) but didn’t specify how.

Click here to listen (no sub needed)

Tony Khan comments on Kota Ibushi injury

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Tony Khan has commented on Kota Ibushi’s injury.

On Saturday, AEW ended up airing the Kota Ibushi vs. Josh Alexander match that was taped on Wednesday at Daly’s Place that ended after Ibushi broke his femur, landing badly on his leg after losing his balance off the top rope. Ibushi will require surgery as a result of the accident.

“We are all very grateful for The Golden Star @ibushi_kota,” he wrote. “In my opinion, he’s one of the greatest wrestlers that I’ve ever seen. He is adored by the AEW locker room + fans worldwide. We wish him the best as he recovers from the leg injury he suffered on #AEWCollision tonight!”

The injury took place when Alexander had Ibushi on his shoulders as he went to the top rope, but Ibushi appeared to lose his balance and both ended up falling out of the ring. Ibushi was unable to move as Alexander re-entered the ring. Ibushi ended up losing the match via count-out. 

After the match was called, Mark Davis made his return and attacked Ibushi briefly before he was stopped by Kenny Omega, who attacked both Alexander and Davis.

Tony Khan: Jon Moxley is ‘the most consistent presence’ in AEW’s history

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Jon Moxley is one of Tony Khan’s favorite people that he’s ever worked with in any line of business.

During an interview with 3NT Wrestling, Khan spoke incredibly highly of Moxley’s work in the ring and as a locker room leader. Moxley debuted on the first-ever AEW show in 2019 — and Khan believes Moxley has been the most consistent presence in AEW through its first six years.

“Jon Moxley, since day one, has been one of the most important stars in AEW. But backstage, Jon Moxley’s also — as you’ve correctly assessed — one of the most important people backstage in AEW,” Khan said. “Everybody in AEW has so much respect for Jon Moxley. He arrived in AEW as a huge star. And since we started AEW, he’s been the most consistent presence on the show week in, week out on all of our shows.

“Jon Moxley works so hard. He’s a phenomenal wrestler. He’s a phenomenal leader. He’s a genius about pro wrestling. And Jon Moxley’s one of my favorite people I’ve ever gotten to work with. And I’m really, really proud that Jon Moxley is in AEW. I think he was a fantastic World Champion time after time after time in AEW. Everything he’s done in this company has been to the benefit of AEW. And Jon Moxley’s a phenomenal, phenomenal wrestler.”

Moxley has had four reigns as AEW World Champion. The most recent of those occurred from October 2024 to July 2025, when current champ Hangman Page dethroned him for the belt. Moxley is the leader of the Death Riders, a faction that now consists of Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Marina Shafir, PAC, and the recently added Daniel Garcia.

A singles match between Moxley and Tomohiro Ishii is part of the lineup for tonight’s Title Tuesday edition of Dynamite in Jacksonville, Florida.